Share this:

Not state Director of Operations Howard Glaser not drawing a bead on a member of the Capitol press corps.

Just announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s press office: A Sunday outing for the cabinet, senior staff, local officials and economic development folk, plus the media, to Boreas Ponds, part of the 69,000 acres of former Finch-Pruyn holdings recently added to Adirondack State Park.

The trip “is designed to help promote tourism in the Adirondack Park and find new ways to attract tourists from around the world to visit one of America’s most scenic and beautiful natural habitats,” according to the press office.

Reporters who plan to attend must sign a waiver, the text of which reads like the back-jacket copy of James Dickey’s novel “Deliverance” as the signatory acknowledges that:

We may experience or utilize many forms of transportation, including cars, vans, motor boats, canoes, kayaks, rafts or bicycles. It is possible that any of these modes of transport could become rough, causing motion discomfort, or become disabled as a result of misjudgments or mistakes by me, another trip participant, the trip guide, the operator of the vehicle, a third party or an act of God.

We may be hiking or walking to reach our destinations during this trip. We may encounter steep slopes, cliffs, narrow or slippery trails; rivers or streams with swift currents; rockslides, landslides, and varying weather conditions and temperatures. I may slip and fall, damaging equipment, or causing injury to myself or others, or be subject to sunburn, heatstroke, hypothermia or frostbite.

We may be fishing, swimming, boating and/or engaging in other water activities. Rocks, snags, and other unforeseeable risks are possible.

As part of the experience, we hope to view wildlife in its natural habitat, and such wildlife may be dangerous.

But have a great time! It’s beautiful up there! Jimmy, who works on Sunday, will be attending — so let’s wish him the best and thank him for all his good work … in the days that remain.

In August, Rick joined a tour of another part of the new acquisition, but never had to sign a waiver. (His lawsuit, one assumes, is pending.)

More background on the location from the press office:

The Boreas Ponds are located in the Town of North Hudson and border the High Peaks and Dix Mountain Wilderness Areas along the northern boundary. The spectacular property features the beautiful Boreas Ponds and provides abundant opportunities for hiking, paddling, hunting, trapping, camping, fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

In Greek mythology, Boreas is the god of the North Wind and bringer of the winter. Boreas means “North Wind” or “Devouring One,” according to the writings of Pausanias.

In August, the Governor announced the state’s acquisition of 69,000 acres of the former Finch Pruyn and other Nature Conservancy lands throughout the Adirondacks. The acquisition was the largest single addition to the Adirondack State Forest Preserve in more than a century.

The entire 69,000 acres will become part of the “forever wild” Forest Preserve. The former Finch lands contain some of the most important recreational and environmental assets in the Adirondack Park which will be opened to public use for the first time in more than 150 years. The lands contain an astounding variety of mountains, cliffs, wilderness lakes, ponds, bogs, fens, swamps, alluvial forests, and flat and white-water rivers. The parcels contain extensive habitat for mammals, such as moose, bobcat and black bear, and aquatic habitat for brook trout, landlocked salmon, and small and largemouth bass.

The 69,000-acres include 180 miles of rivers and streams, 175 lakes and ponds, 465 miles of undeveloped shoreline along rivers, streams, lakes and ponds, six mountains taller than 2,000 feet and countless smaller hills.

About Capitol Confidential

Capitol Confidential gathers the best coverage of New York politics and puts it all together. Each section - Capitol, The State Worker, New York on the Potomac, and Voices - represents a unique facet of the political scene. The Capitol section features coverage from the Times Union Capitol bureau. The State Worker is dedicated to state worker issues. New York on the Potomac offers news of interest to New Yorkers from Washington. And Voices features the best of everything else, pointing you to columnists and bloggers from across the Web.